BYU baseball: Cougs blow lead, still down Lobos

Published: Saturday, March 28, 2009 12:11 a.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 

ALBUQUERQUE — After blowing a 10-run lead, BYU's baseball team stopped New Mexico's 10-game winning streak Friday night, beating the No. 20-ranked Lobos in a slugfest, 15-13.

The Cougars, now 15-9 overall and 5-3 in the Mountain West Conference, were up 13-3 in the sixth, but needed the fifth pitching save from Jordan Muir to secure the victory.

In that sixth inning, BYU loaded the bases for the third time in the game, scoring six runs. However, the Lobos scored seven runs in the bottom of that frame as Cougar relievers and substitutes struggled.

The offensive difference came in the seventh when BYU went up 14-10 after Dan Vargas tripled, then scored on a sacrifice fly.

Cougar pitcher Blake Torgerson was effective through the bottom of the fifth until he got hit by a line drive. Togerson then gave up a two-run homer before finally finishing the fifth in an effort to pick up the win.

"We prolonged innings because of a couple bad plays, but fortunately we kept tacking on runs," said BYU coach Vance Law. "No lead is safe here."

BYU's initial lead came when Kent Walton belted a 440-foot home run to right centerfield to bring home Stetson Banks for a 2-0 margin in the first inning.

The Cougars improved their lead to 3-0 in the second thanks to a pair of walks and a hit batsman to load the bases.

Story continues below

Chad Nacapoy doubled in Jonathan Cluff to put BYU up 4-0 in the fourth as BYU loaded the bases again.

In the fifth BYU answered UNM's run from the previous inning, scoring Brandon Relf a sac-fly, then off a Nacapoy double and a Banks bunt to take a 7-1 lead.

The Lobos, now 23-4 overall and 4-1 in the MWC, try to rebound from their first league loss when they host BYU again Saturday at noon.

Comments

You can be the first to comment on this story.

previousnext

Latest comments

Cougars in better mood about bowl

Both teams will be motivated. these are 2 highly ranked teams trying to show...

Justice was long in coming.

Spend our way out of a financial crisis? Hey that's terrific financial...

"Where I come from, a wise person does not necessarily have any formal...

Letters: Health care scam

Several of you have mentioned Glenn Beck. Glenn is a great role model, if...

Andersen apologizes for Jordan hoax

He has a home in Park City. He comes to Utah fairly often. But the...

I just shoveled 6" of global warming off the driveway this morning.

can't wait for a repeat title in 2010. Go Frogs!!!!

Iowa is a good team, but their conference is weak, weak, weak this year. You...

Helicopters rescue stranded hikers

To hiker's friend: I had the pleasure of being around SAR at a nearby area...

Advertisements